Middle Park’s Emergency Response Team (MPERT) was called into action last Friday night to apprehend a wanted suspect in Kremmling in an incident that ended peacefully.

The suspect, Anthony Cordova, was taken into custody without incident Friday night, Feb. 12, around 8 p.m. Cordova was arrested on a warrant for second-degree assault out of Grand County. The Middle Park Emergency Response Team, which functions in a role more commonly associated with the term SWAT team, was called in following initial reports that Cordova may have had access to a firearm.

Cordova has a prior history with law enforcement and has previously served time in prison. Local authorities named him as the suspect in a stabbing incident and had already issued a warrant for his arrest prior to the incident Friday night.

According to initial reports from Grand County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Lt. Dan Mayer Sheriff’s deputies had been searching for Cordova since Thursday Feb. 11 when they attempted to serve him with a warrant and the suspect ran from authorities.

On Friday an officer from the Kremmling Police Dept. spotted Cordova and watched him enter a trailer house in the west Grand community. Afterwards authorities quickly closed off the area.

“We were confident he was in there,” said Mayer. “There was only a minor window to get out.” Authorities closed US Highway 40 as the incident escalated but reopened the thoroughfare approximately 30 minutes later after the suspect was apprehended.

Initial reports indicated Cordova could possibly have access to a firearm. The Emergency Response Team Commander, Sgt. Jim Kraker with the Granby Police Dept., completed a threat assessment on the situation. Considering both Cordova’s past as well as the possibility of his having access to a firearm Team Commander Kraker and Incident Commanders Scott Spade, Kremmling Police Chief, and Wayne Schafer, Undersheriff for Grand County, made the determination to utilize the MPERT to bring Cordova into custody.

Cordova surrendered to authorities without incident after the Emergency Response Team moved in to apprehend him. According to Mayer Cordova was hiding inside a series of cabinets in the trailer house but came out of his hiding spot when authorities called out to him.

After bringing Cordova into custody the suspect told authorities he had ingested a large number of prescription pain pills and was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood for monitoring. Cordova has since been released from St. Anthony’s and was transported back to the Grand County jail. Law enforcement officials confirmed Cordova will be charged with his pre-existing second-degree assault charge and that additional charges are likely pending. A charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Middle Park Emergency Response Team include officers from the Kremmling Police Department, the Granby Police Department, the Fraser/Winter Park Police Department and deputies from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.